As we begin a new chapter in our hosting life, I am realizing that I did not write a proper closing to the last chapter. Perhaps that is because in the case of Hanna the end of the year was very bittersweet and with Spicy it did not really feel like an "end" but rather a see you later. It was an odd but fitting closing to an absolutely outstanding year with our third and fourth daughters.
Hanna graduated from CK - which was really neat because she received a diploma and everything. I unfortunately was unable to be there (playing for my best friend's wedding) and while they took pictures I evidently have not gotten them off of the camera yet. We made and decorated a giant cookie instead of making a cake. Hanna often helped me make cookie bars so it was just more fitting to have a cookie. We had quite the experience baking it however...I'm still a bit disturbed that the smoke alarms didn't go off considering the amount of smoke we had in the house! It turns out that a pizza pan is only a good idea for cookie dough if it has absolutely no holes in it - no idea where my brain had gone, I mean DUH! Anyway, with the end of the year upon us and Hanna's dad and step-mom arriving soon after we had to think of a way to end our time together.
We ended up at a branding. Hanna wanted to experience one last typical Sandhills event and Mrs. Nollette (our business teacher) was kind enough to invite us. So, with three Germans (Hanna, her dad, and step-mom) and a Korean in tow, we went to the branding! It was lots of fun watching our sweet fashionable daughters get dirty :)
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| Branding is smoky business! |
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| Hanna holding the calf like a pro. |
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| Spicy, you're about to lose those sunglasses ;) |
After the branding we headed to Cody to show Hanna's parents around and then we went to the waterfalls near Valentine (Snake, Smith & Fort). It was a great day with Hanna's parents. We ended the evening by having dinner with the Gosslers and then we went home, just the four of us, to spend our final night together. We watched a movie, enjoyed each others' company and fell asleep in the living room.
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| Enjoying Smith Falls |
The next morning we sad a tearful goodbye to our sweet beautiful Hanna. I have missed her everyday since. She was such a blessing to us and I will forever cherish the time in which she was able to live with us. Hosting students is so much more than giving them a place to sleep and food to eat - they become family and Hanna is deeply embedded in my heart and will forever be my daughter.
That same afternoon we loaded up both of our vehicles with the other four girl foreign exchange students and headed for Omaha where they board flights to their native lands. Still saddened by Hanna's goodbye, it was good to have the chatter of the other girls.
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Spicy sending her big sister Hanna love,
with the other girls in the background. |
Jules and Sabine flew out first and left Susi and Spicy who got to stay a few days more. We had lots of fun with them hanging out in Fremont, loudly singing along to a musical soundtrack (no it was NOT "Frozen") and eating at Taco B*ll just so we could send a picture to Hanna from her "favorite" fast food place.
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| Enjoying their Taco B*ll |
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| Live Mas |
When Spicy left it was a strange good-bye/see you later because we knew there was a very large possibility that she would be back in the fall. The school was completing paperwork to become certified to have F visa students (which is a different visa than she came on the first time) and Spicy was planning to return as long as all of the necessary requirements with the school were met. We were not certain but it felt like (and she seemed to believe) that this was just a summer vacation home and that we really were not saying goodbye. It would appear that this was true. The school did receive approval to have F-1 students so all that is left is for Spicy to actually receive her visa in Korea and to book a flight! It would appear that barring any unforeseen circumstances, we will have three daughters living with us this year. Spicy and our two "new" foreign daughters, Martine and Seraina. As we prepare for their arrival, we think of the wonderful year we had with our family of four (but really of six with Dani and Amy across the ocean) and anticipate a great year as a family of five (but really of eight with Dani, Amy and Hanna across the ocean). George and I have longed for lots of children and until now have not been blessed with biological ones but instead God has chosen to use this time in our life to bless us with foreign daughters from all over the world. It has been an incredible journey thus far and we look forward to all that lies ahead!
Be on the look out for a few more posts coming your way shortly - one about our basement remodel as we are preparing our "unfinished" bedroom for Martine and one about Martine & Seraina's arrival in Montana! That's right...we're taking this introductory period on the road :) For now, one final picture of our "twins" from last year! Love these girls so, so much.
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| At the lake house after a "girls day." |
